The easy target is second-year starting quarterback Stephen McGee, whose metamorphosis from big-time high school passer to the Aggies' leading rusher has led to much speculation about his health and the coaches' trust in his decision-making.

One apparent solution would be for Franchione and his staff to find more playing time for redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Johnson.

In four mopup-duty appearances this season, Johnson has displayed the dual-threat playmaking abilities that have Aggies hoping he turns out to be their version of Vince Young.

The Humble product has led A&M (5-2) on scoring drives in all four of his appearances — six of seven series — this season, rushing for two touchdowns while passing for two more scores.

To give it some perspective, McGee has only four passing touchdowns in seven games but has had far more opportunities.

But Franchione stopped just short of saying his No. 2 quarterback is game-ready enough to help the Aggies even on a limited basis.

"I don't think it would help our team be better, but Jerrod is getting better," Franchione said. "He's a redshirt freshman. Stephen wasn't really very ready as a redshirt freshman, either. Jerrod's made strides, but he's still not as far along as we want him to get yet. And I don't think it would make a big impact right now if we brought him in."

But looking at where A&M ranks statistically, especially in passing offense, it doesn't seem like it could get much worse. The Aggies enter Saturday's game at Nebraska ranked last in the Big 12 and 109th in the nation in passing offense, averaging 162.6 yards a game.

Their problems throwing the ball were obvious last Saturday when it became necessary to pass as the deficit against Texas Tech mounted. McGee's success through the air was confined to dink passes as A&M tried to overcome a 21-7 halftime hole. The Aggies lacked the ability to thrown throw downfield — a recurring problem this season when McGee has been under center.

However, Johnson has shown an ability to connect on the deep ball with accuracy in his appearances.

Johnson completed a 33-yard touchdown pass to tight end Martellus Bennett in the blowout loss at Miami, and he also completed a 17-yard touchdown to Terrence McCoy in his debut against Montana State.

However, Franchione cautions reading too much into Johnson's performances in those situations because the games were not on the line, and they came against backups.

"When you're a quarterback, each week takes on its own identity," Franchione said. "It's a new game plan, a new defense.

"The plays don't change that much, but there are so many different adjustments and coverages and things, and this is Jerrod's first time to go through all of that. The guy has made some improvement each week, but he hasn't closed the gap between him and Stephen."

So that leaves A&M searching for ways to fix its struggling offense while still in the thick of the Big 12 South race.

McGee was one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks a year ago, topping 2,100 yards passing and 600 yards rushing while throwing for 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions. While McGee's passing stats have dipped considerably, he leads the team in rushing and ranks seventh in the Big 12 with 544 yards on 85 carries.

"In the throwing game, as you can see, we've been more apt to run the football at times," said offensive coordinator Les Koenning, whose rushing offense ranks second in the Big 12 and seventh in the nation. "He does a nice job in that area."

But it's been obvious that in situations this season in which the Aggies have needed to throw the ball with McGee at the helm, they have struggled. That certainly was the case against the Red Raiders as McGee completed 17 of 30 passes for 133 yards and one interception.

"We have room for improvement in the passing game," Koenning said. "We have not gone out and said we're going to spread the field and throw the football."